The Washington critic., 1887-11-07
JAZZ GOULD'S ADVICE.
Young Mnn's Chances who III
only Brains for His Capital.

A Young Man's Chances Who Has
only Brains for His Capital.
Following is an interview recently
had with Mr.. Jay Gould by Foster
Coates on the subject of chances for
the young man just starting out in the
world:
"You want to know what chance would
there be for the success OF a young man
whose only capital is his brains, his only IN.
nuence an energetic disposition, and his
only friend strict integrity OF purposeS In
New York his chances are far less than they
were feTty years ago."
"Wby do you say so f'
"Btcause aUtagonism is stronger, compe-
tition greater and temptations more numer-
ous.n
"ln which way Is this the case ?"
"Iifst, there are many more persons OF
ability In New York to-day than there were
forty years ago. This tends to produce both
antoRonism md competition. Tne young
man finds those whe are his mental equals
In almost all stages of life. Then, with re-
gard TO temptations, the opportunities to-
day for spending money are far more
numerous and inviting. An age OF ex-
| tfavsgsnce has sprung up, and young men
| are tempted to expend money which they
really can not afford on pleasures which
would not have been thought OF forty years
ago" -.
"But suppose a young man has strength
| Of mind enough to throw aside such so.
| called pleasures, devote himself to bust
ness, and employ bis leisure moments In the
| improvement OF his mental qualifications,
what chances has such onep'
"Where arc you going to find such
young men to'dnyY They are extremely
rare"
"But am supposing a case."
"l should think young man with those
| qualifications and an earnestness OF purpose
would succeed In time"
| "What kind OF occupation would you
think best fitted for him ~
| "Any that might tuit bis fancy. He must
have q love for his employment first; then q
| devotion towards II ttrong enough to enable
him to Get all other things aud passions
aeide; a steadinees OF purpose, strict ecou
cmy In his personal expenditures, aud
thrift"
THE FIRST $1,000.
| "Would you advise him TO be niggardlyr
"My experience has been that 1t ia very
difficult to cave tho first $1,000. Young
men have no idea how soon they expcnd
that sum In ways that could have been
avoided, aud for which there ia no actua
necessity. Some call 1t pleasure; for thu
young man just starting In lie 1t Is ex
travag arce. After competence has beer
secured, then expensive pleasures can b,
INDUCED in without regret. The younG
man who would succeed mus. first laarn t.
put up with some personal discomfort
eschew all expensive companions and pur
cults and find pleasures In fitting his miut
to combat with the obstacles that stand II
the way Of his succcss.n
"Then there is a chance for him even Ii
New Yorkr'
"Yes; but 1t may be one in million
There are better chances elsewhere, wher,
there is less opposition and competition
for young man OF energy and brains with
out capital or Influence. would not dis
courage an industrious and energetic youn.
man, but merely point out the difllcultie
and dangers which stand In the way Of hi
success In this metropolis of America"
"Would you advise him to learn trader
by all means; every man should be mas
ter Of good trade"
"What course OF reading or study woult
you suggest; 7"
"Let him read the daily papers thor
ouPbly. Any man can famillarze himssl
with all that is going on, and he can als
get good education by studying the dali
papers. Books? Oh, any book that /
good and we'll written and is clean an
healthy. 1t is not go much the books W
read as what we remember that does II
good. Read anything that comes to hand
Keep out OF bad company and go to worl
with will. The boy who does that
| bound to get on In the world.o